The broadcaster Radio France International has come out to back their reporter who was banned from working in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the authorities accused her of reporting the unofficial results of the presidential election.
RFI denied the accusation made against Florence Morice in a statement this morning. RFI had carried extensive coverage of the election and is very widely listened across the francophone country. But it says its broadcasts have been jammed since Monday evening.
Yesterday, Western powers including the EU and US urged the Congolese authorities to refrain from blocking the media. Internet access has been blocked since Monday and people are unable to send text messages The presidential election took place on Sunday and the count is under way.
Current President Joseph Kabila’s diplomatic adviser, Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, told AFP news agency that the national security council had decided it was “imperative” to shut down the internet to allow the electoral commission to finish counting and compiling votes.
“There are people who have indoctrinated the public with false numbers about this election. This has laid the groundwork for a popular uprising,” he told AFP yesterday.
The election result is expected on 6 January.
